Firing and guiding mechanism for jetpropelled missiles launched from launcher tubes



June 25, 3 968 BEIER ET AL 3,389,637

IRING AND GUIDING MECHANISM FOR JET-PROPELLED MISSILES LAUNCHED FROMLAUNCHER TUBES Filed June 7. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 \NVENTORSHeinrichKusper, Ernst Beier, EickeMous, I TheodorBohrnh'cift,

Erich Plcmitzer, Josef Durner Fritz Zeyer,

By ATTORNEYS June 25, 1968 BE|ER ET AL 3,389,637

FIRING AND GUIDING MECHANISM FOR JET-PROPELLED MISSILES LAUNCHED FROMLAUNCHER TUBES Filed June 7. 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W (1 ll a '1.

Mi" AG 42 49 INVENTORS Heinrich Kosper,Ernst Beier. Eicke MClUS,

Theodor Bornhdft, Erich Plonitzer, Josef Durner y he fiwm ATTORNEYS June25, 1968 E. BEIER ET AL 3,389,637

FIRING AND GUIDING MECHANISM FOR JET-PROPELLED MISSILES LAUNCHED FROMLAUNCHER TUBES Filed June 7, 1967 20 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 55 i 32 i 56 Q 6 I5 I 7O I 4- I A 1 Y7 65 40141 42 67 so 66 INVENTORS HeinrichKcsper,Erns'c Beier, Eicke Maus, Theodor Bornhbft Erich Plcnitzer, OSefDurner Fritz Zeyher. z r

By ATTORNEYS a coarse sight for short range sighting.

United a 3,389,637 FIRING AND GUIDING MECHANISM FOR JET- PROPELLEDMISSELES LAUNCHED FROM LAUNCHER TUBES Ernst Beier, Munich, TheodorBornhoft, Vaterstetten, Josef Durner, Ottobrunn-Riemerling, HeinrichKasper, Munich, Eicke Maus, Ottohrunil, Erich Planitzer, Neubiherg, andFritz 'Zeyher', Ottobrunu, Germany, assignors to Bcllrow Gesellschaftmit b'es chranlrter Haftung, Ottobrunn, Germany i Filed June 7, 1967,Ser. No. 644,237 Claims priority, application Germany, June 15, 1966,

Claims. (Ci. 891.815)

ABSTRACT. on DISCLOSURE A firing and guiding mechanism for jet-propelledsiles, launched from a launcher tube, is disclosed as including anundercarriage having a part adjustable laterally and vertically. Thispart disengageably supports a sight carrier, having the general form ofa shaft, and Carrying all the devices required for launching, trackingand guiding the missile. The sight carrier extends parallel to the axisof the launcher tube, and disengageably supports the launcher tube.

' A damping unit is included in the undercarriage and controls the speedof traverse, and a self-locking, no-play gear means is provied forelevation of the launcher tube. The sight carrier carries an opticalsight for precision long range sighting, tracking and guiding, and alsocarries The sight carrier is provided with a support surface conformingto a human shoulder, so that the sight carrier may be disengaged fromthe undercarriage and supported on the shoulder of the operator forso-called shoulder shots.

Background of the invention launching the missile, and anelectricibattery, whichis not arranged on the device, supplies theenergy necessary for such launching and guidingQDuring guided flight ofa missile, a sight, which extends c-o-axially of the launcher tube orparallel to the axis of the latter, must constantly track the target tobe reached by the missile in order to produce theguiding signals.

A firing and guiding mechanism of this type is relative- -ly heavy andrequires special vehicles for its transportation. Because of its weightand dimensions, such a firing :and guiding mechanism can consequently beused only when installed on the ground, so that a rapid change inlocation, necessary under changing battle conditions, is difiicult toeffect. If the firing and guiding mechanism must be manually transportedbecause of a lack of vehicles, it must first be disassembled intodifierent parts by specialists using special tools. Firing of such amissile from the shoulder of the gunner toward a relatively closetarget, namely the so-called shoulder shot, which is necessary in closecombat, or in assaults from enemy 3,389,637 Patented June 25, 1968armored vehicles, is not possible with a firing ing mechanism of thementioned type.

" A' firing mechanism for unguided, relatively small ballis'ticmissilesis shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,913,960, and includes a launcher tubecontaining a jet-propelled missile and detachablyconnected with thetripod in such a manner that the launcher tube can be adjusted both inelevatiou and in traverse. With this arrangement, the gunner candetach'the launcher tube from the tripod with a few manipulations, anduse the launcher tube alone to fire a shoulder shot. This arrangement,however, does not include a special elevating and traversing gear, sinceit is used to fire unguided missiles. The elevating and traversinggear'on the tripod is suitable only to aim the ready-tofire missile atthe target.

and guid- Summary of the invention The invention relates to the firingand guiding of jetpropelled missiles launched from launcher tubes and,more particularly, to a novel and improved firing and guiding mechanismof this type, and which is simple, lightweight and inexpensive, so thatit can be carried by a single gunner and is usable both for a so-calledshoulder shot and for firing of a missile ground-supported on anundercarriage or the like and using optical target and/or missiletracking.

Starting from the known provision of a firing and guiding mechanism forjet-propelled missiles launched from launcher tubes and arranged with avertically and horizontally adjustable part carried by an undercarriageto receive the launcher tube and a sight for producing the guidingsignals and for aiming, the invention provides a lockable shaft-likesight carrier extending parallel to the axisof the launcher tube and inor on which are arranged all of the devices necessary for launching,tracking and guiding. This sight carrier is detacha'bly secured to theundercarriage, which latter is designed as a tripod and includes dampingmeans for the traversing movement and a self-locking no-play elevationgear means for the elevation movement.

Due to the disengageable connection between the sight carrier, which canbe secured with the launcher tube, and

the tripod carrying the elevating and traversing gear, a

missile can be launched and tracked, independently of the tripod, fromthe sight carrier connected with the disengageably coupled with alaterally and horizontally adjustable receiver part on the tripod. Inaddition, the sight carrier has, adjacent its front end, two foldinghandles on its underside and, at its rear part, a rounded supportingsurface on its underside, the form of this surface being adapted to thehuman shoulder. The tripod includes a bearing body which. is connectedwith a gear case through a bearing pin, for relative rotation, the gearcase including a receiver part for the sight carrier. A folding handleis provided on the gear case so that the latter can be adjusted aboutthe elevating and traversing axes of the tripod.

Legs are pivotally mounted on the bearing body of the tripod, and can beadjusted in length or angularly stepwise in a known manner by a lockingdevice. In a limiting angular position, these legs engage retractableend stops preventing the bearing body from dropping to the ground. Thelegs can be swung upwardly, after retraction of the end stops, into asubstantial vertical position for transport of the tripod, and can belocked in this position. The bearing body has a folding handle on itsunderside.

The detachable coupling device connecting the sight carrier and thetripod comprises two hooks arranged opposite each other inside therecess of the sight carrier. These hooks are spring biased and engagebehind projections of the receiver part of the tripod.

In order to obtain a uniform angular velocity during traversing movementof the firing and guiding mechanism, a damping device is provided in thebearing body. This damping device comprises a number of closely spaceddisks, alternate disks being rigidly connected with the stationary partof the tripod and intermediate disks being rigidly connected with arotatable part thereof, such as a bearing fork. A damping liquid isinterposed between the alternate and intermediate disks.

The elevating gear is a well-known worm gearing made free from play byan adjusting wedge, and this elevating gear is operated, through twobevel gears, by a handle. The tripod, containing the traversing andelevating gear, has a clamping device, provided with an operatinghandle, by means of which the sight carrier and the launcher tube maybe. locked in any given traversing position, or be released fortraversing.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved firing and guidingmechanism for jet-propelled missiles launched from launcher tubes.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism which issimple, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive, and which can becarried by a single gunner and is adaptable both for a shoulder shot andfor mounting on an undercarriage or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanismincluding a sight carrier extending parallel to the axis of the launchertube, and carrying all of the devices necessary for launching, trackingand guiding of the missile.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism inwhich the sight carrier is disengageably connected with an undercarriagedesigned as a tripod and carrying a damping gear for the traversingmovement and a play-free self-locking gear for the elevating movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism inwhich the sight carrier is formed with a support surface adaptable tothe human shoulder, the sight carrier being disengageably connected to atripod for removal therefrom for a so-called shoulder shot.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such a firing andguiding mechanism which is easily manually transportable and which doesnot require special tools or specialized personnel for attachment of thesight carrier and the launcher tube to a support or detachment from thesupport.

Brief description of the drawings For an understanding of the principlesof the invention, reference is made to the following description of atypical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of firing and guiding mechanism embodyingthe invention and including a launcher tube, a sight carrier with anoptical sight, and an undercarriage in the form of a tripod;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view corresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the firing and guidingmechanism positioned for a so-called shoulder shot;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the tripodand a portion of the sight carrier, on a large scale; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view, partly in section, of a detail of the tripodillustrating a retractable end stop preventing the bearing body droppingto the ground.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, asight carrier 1 is illustrated,

in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, as supporting a launcher tube 2 having a missile 5mounted therein, the launcher tube 2 having its axis extending parallelto the longitudinal axis of the sight carrier and being locked theretoby means of retaining means 3 and 4 secured on the launcher tube 2 andthe sight carrier 1, respectively.

Sight carrier 1 is designed as a tub-shape shaft which is completelyenclosed, and inside of which are arranged the mechanical and electricaldevices necessary for launching and guiding the missile, in a mannerwhich forms no part of the present invention. On the right side of sightcarrier 1, as viewed in FIG. 2, there is secured an optical sight 6provided with a night visibility device, sight 6 having an eyepiece 6aand a light entry portion 6b, a pivoted cover 60 being associated withthe light entry surface. An additional mechanical folding short-range orcoarse sight is provided on the outer surface of sight 6, V

and comprises a rear sight 7 and a front sight 8.

Between sight 6 and the right end of sight carrier 1, as viewed in FIG.1, there is a covering 9 protecting the head of the gunner. Sightcarrier 1 has additionally, at its front or left end viewed in FIG. 1, asupport 11 provided with a series of teeth 10, and also has adjacent itsfront end two folding handles 12 and 13 which can be secured from theunder surface of the sight carrier. On its rear end, or to the right asindicated in FIG. 1, the sight carrier is formed with a roundedsupporting surface 14 adapted to the shoulder of a gunner.

Referring to FIG. 4, the underside of the sight carrier is formed with arecess 17 in the form of a truncated pyramid, and conforming to acorresponding receiver part 18 of a tripod 19 described hereinafter.Receiver part 18 is cooperable with two hooks 24 and positioned oppositeeach other in recess 17, these hooks being pivoted on respective bolts20 and 21 and biased by springs 22 and 23. Hooks 24 and 25 engage behindrespective projections 26 and 27 of receiver part 18 to lock sightcarrier 1 frictionally to the tripod. The hooks can be released by meansof a lever 29 acting against the bias of springs 22 and 23, the mannerof operation not being shown here, so that the sight carrier 1 can belifted or disengaged from the tripod.

Tripod 19 had a bearing body 30 which rotatably mounts a bearing fork31. On the base 32 of bearing body 30 there are pivotally mounted threelegs 39, and 41 by means of respective joints 33, 34 and 35, these legsbeing provided at their outer ends with respective claws 36, 37 and 38,as also seen in FIG. 2. On the base of bearing body 30 there are alsoprovided end stops 46 which engage with extensions 49 of the tripod legsin the limiting position of the latter, and thus prevent the bearingbody from dropping to the ground during adjustments. The tripod legs canbe folded substantially vertically upwardly after retracting of the endstops 46. As illustrated in FIG. 5, end stops 46 can be retracted intothe interior of the bearing body by means of handles 47 acting againstthe bias of springs 48. A folding handle 50 is arranged on the undersideof the bearing body for easy transportation of the tripod.

A bearing pin 53 of fork 31 is rotatably mounted in bearing body 30 bymeans of needle bearings 54, 55 and 56, for rotation about a verticalaxis. Fork 31 either can be locked relative to bearing body 30 or can bereleased for angular displacement relative thereto by means of anadjusting lever 58 connected to a threaded clamping shaft passingthrough the bearing fork and threadedly engaged with clamping jaws 62and 63, one having a right hand thread and the other a left hand thread.

At the bottom end of bearing pin 53 there are secured a number of thindisks 65, as best seen in FIG. 4. These disks are arranged closelyadjacent and parallel to each other, being held in position by means ofa nut 66. Between each pair of adjacent alternate disks 65 is arrangedan intermediate disk 67 which is secured by screws 68 to the bearingbody, and a damping fluid is contained between the disks. The disks 65,secured to pin 53, and the disks 67, secured to hearing body 30, form adamping unit insuring a uniform angular velocity of the traversingmovement. A cover 71 is secured on the underside of bearing body 30 bymeans of screw 70, and forms a watertight and dust-tight seal for thebearing body.

A continuous shaft 72 is fixed to the upper end of bearing fork 31, asbest seen in FIG. 4, being secured in recesses in the bearing fork andextending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of bearing body 30. Agear case 76 is mounted rotatably about shaft 72, and has its upper partdesigned as the aforementioned receiver part 18 which can bedisengageably locked in recess 17 of sight carrier 1. A handle 78 isrotatably mounted on gear case 76 and extends perpendicularly to thelongitudinal axis of bearing body 30, handle 78 being operable to effectthe elevating movement. By means of handle 78, gear case 76, and with itsight carrier 1, can be turned about the axis of shaft 72 through bevelgears (not shown) and a worm 82 rotatably mounted in a bearing 79 andmeshing with a worm gear sector 83 fixed to the stationary shaft 72.

If a missile is to be launched, for example in a so-called shouldershot, sight carrier 1 must be disengaged from tripod 18. For thispurpose, lever 29 is operated against the action of springs 22 and 23 todisengage hooks 24 and 25 from projections 26 and 27, respectively. Thehooks are held in their inoperative position. Sight carrier 1 can now begrasped by handles 12 and 13 with one hand each, and lifted to theshoulder of a gunner, as shown in FIG. 3. In this position, sightcarrier 1 has its supporting surface 14 bearing on the right shoulder ofthe gunner. The gunner can now aim the sight carrier on a very closetarget by using the close-range or coarse sight 7-8, which is at the eyelevel in front of the gunner. The target can also be traced by opticalsight 6, as illustrated by the gunners position in FIG. 3.

For the sake of completeness it should also be mentioned that, byactuating a safety lever 85 on sight carrier 1 with the thumb of theleft hand, the missile can be made' ready to launch, and can be launched'by means of a starter 86 for launcher tube 2, and guided to the targetin the so-called target covering method wherein the target cross hairsor the like of mechanical sight 7-8 or of optical sight 6 are keptconstantly aligned on the target.

For more remote targets, it is advisable to launch missile 5 by means ofmounting sight carrier 1, with launching tube 2, on tripod 18 providedwith the elevating and traversing gear, as seen in FIG. 1. For thispurpose, sight carrier 1 has its recess 17 engaged on receiver part 18of tripod 19, with the spring-loaded hooks 24 and 25 being released toengage projections 26 and 27 of receiver 18 and lock the tripod 19automatically with sight carrier 1. Legs 39, 40 and 41, which can turnby means of joints 33,

34 and 35, respectively, permit a coarse elevation of the firing andguiding mechanism. Aiming at the target is effected by means of handle78 on gear case 76. This handle can be used to traverse the sightcarrier about the vertical axis of tripod 19, and simultaneously can beturned to adjust the longitudinal axis of the sight carrier in anelevational movement.

In the case of a stationary target, sight carrier 1 can be locked bymeans of adjusting lever 58 so that it can not be turned about the axisof the tripod. Such a locking is not necessary for elevation, since thefrictional force of the self-locking worm gearing 82, 83 is so greatthat sight carrier 1 can be moved by means of handle 78 about shaft 72.During traverse, damping unit 65, 67 permits only a constant angularvelocity independent of the force exerted by a gunner during thetraversing movement.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. In a firing and guiding mechanism for a jet-propelled missilelaunched from a launcher tube, of the type including an undercarriage, apart carried by said undercarriage and adjustable laterally andvertically, and a sight for elevation and traverse of the launcher tubeand for guiding of the missile; the improvement comprising, in combination, a sight carrier having the general form of a shaft and extendingparallel to the axis of the launcher tube, said sight carrier carryingall devices required for launching, tracking and guiding the missile;means on said sight carrier disengageably connecting the same to saidpart of said undercarriage; a damping unit in said undercarriageconnected to said part thereof and controlling the traversing speed; andself-locking, no-play elevation gear means on said undercarriageconnected to said part thereof.

2. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which the undersurface of said sight carrier is formed with arecess substantially conformingly receiving said laterally andvertically adjustable part of said undercarriage; and coupling means insaid recess for disengageable coupling of said sight carrier to saidpart.

3. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, including handle means positionable in operative relation for manualgrasping on the underside of said sight carrier; the rear portion ofsaid sight carrier having an undersunface with a form adapted to thehuman shoulder; whereby said sight carrier, when released from saidundercarriage, may be mounted on the shoulder of a gunner for aso-called shoulder shot.

4. In firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim 3,in which the sight carrier is formed with a recess substantiallyconformingly receiving said laterally and vertically adjustable part ofsaid undercarriage; and coupling means in said recess for disengageablecoupling of said sight carrier to said part.

5. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which said undercarriage includes a bearing body; a gear caserotatably connected through a bearing pin with said bearing body, forrotation about a substantially vertical axis; said gear case includingsaid laterally and vertically adjustable part of said undercarriage;elevating gear means in said gear case; and a handle secured on saidgear case and operable to adjust the same angularly about the axis ofsaid bearing pin as a traversing axis, and operable to activate saidgear means for elevation movement of said sight carrier.

6. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which said undercarriage is a tripod having a bearing body andlegs pivoted on said bearing body for step-wise adjustment by respectivelocking devices; end stops on said bearing body engageable with saidlegs to limit movement thereof in a direction lowering said bearingbody; said end stops being retractable for swinging of said legs into asubstantially vertically upwardly extending position for transport ofsaid tripod; and a handle pivotally connected to the underside of saidbearing body for transport of said tripod.

7. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim2, in which said coupling means comprises a pair of opposing hookspivotally mounted in said recess in said sight carrier; said laterallyand vertically adjustable part of said undercarriage having projectionscooperable with said hooks; and spring means biasing said hooks intoengagement with the respective projections.

8. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, in which said undercarriage includes a housng; said damping unitincluding a pluralty of closesly spaced disks in said housing, withalternate disks fixedly connected to said laterally and verticallyadjustable part of said undercarriage and intermediate disks fixedlyconnected with said housing; and a damping fluid in said housing betweensaid disks.

9. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim5, in which said elevating gear means includes a worm and a worm gearsector engaged with said Worm, and an adjusting wedge preventing playbetween said wormand said worm gear sector; a handle for elevating saidsight carrier; and bevel gear means connecting said handle to said worm.

10. In a firing and guiding mechanism, the improvement claimed in claim1, including clamping means selectivelyoperable to clamp said laterallyand vertically adjustable part against lateral adjustment to lock saidsight carrier against traverse; and an operating handle connected tosaid clamping means.

, "References Cited UNITED 1/1917 11/1959 sT rEs PATENTS l0 SAMUEL W.ENGLE, Primary Examiner.

